Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => WSM: Weber Smokey Mountain => Topic started by: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM

Title: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM
Interest in this was expressed in another thread so here is the skinny -

I purchased a used, like new18.5" WSM on CL for cheap and had made most of the mods I wanted except it needed to be mobile and I had not yet decided on how this would be done. I thought about it for a week or so and couldn't decide if it would be a platform with 3 wheels, one under each leg, or one with 4 wheels which might make it more stable. Then my cousin stopped by and said that she was cleaning out the garage and did I have a use for this lazy susan thing she had purchased at a lawn sale. It was about 22" in diameter and had 5 lockable wheels. Well, gee, let me see.  I swear it is a true story.

Here I have removed the bearing from between the top and bottom pieces, trimmed 3/8" from the diameter of the upper piece so that it would fit into a water heater drip pan, and fastened the 2 pieces together.

(http://www.deansmiley.com/Files/WSM/susan%20mod.jpg)

The 22" drip pan was a perfect fit. I made some pieces to hold the WSM feet and fastened them to the top. The all steel side table was an old printer stand that I bought at a garage sale for $3.

(http://www.deansmiley.com/Files/WSM/WSM%20Cart%20and%20Table.jpg)

The stand was a great addition for me. I could put the WSM cover on it or the center section, or anything else hot or not. The funny part is that I passed on this stand for 4 previous Saturdays at the same garage sale (had no use for it). Then I thought that this would make a great partner for the WSM and hoped that it would still be available and fortunately it was.

(http://www.deansmiley.com/Files/WSM/three_grates.jpg)

The third shelf was achieved by using counter sunk screws through the straps and acorn nuts as supports.

(http://www.deansmiley.com/Files/WSM/Straps.jpg)


Of the 4 smokers I had at the time this was by far my favorite.  But the body will no longer bend so it is gone now.

Thanks for looking.
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Mr.CPHo on January 06, 2017, 04:46:33 AM
Thank you for the details, nice work.


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Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Bob BQ on January 06, 2017, 06:29:59 AM
Love that "lazy susan" mod, @Maineac !

Quote from: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM
...the body will no longer bend so it is gone now.

Sounds like you could use something like this (http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/mod-month-2015!-official-master-thread/):

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/21165640820_4ea94493bb_c.jpg)
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 06:39:50 AM
I love it! 
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: jeffrackmo on January 06, 2017, 08:06:54 AM
Quote from: Bob BQ on January 06, 2017, 06:29:59 AM
Love that "lazy susan" mod, @Maineac !

Quote from: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM
...the body will no longer bend so it is gone now.

Sounds like you could use something like this (http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/mod-month-2015!-official-master-thread/):

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/21165640820_4ea94493bb_c.jpg)
I did this with a spare SSP cart..(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170106/8c0024f46aafd2b6f129fd34897f85b9.jpg)
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Neil_VT00 on January 06, 2017, 11:27:11 AM
Thanks for the details on the hovercraft! I think I'm going to try to make my own version of it using a drip pan. 
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on January 06, 2017, 02:44:32 PM
That is really cool!  I would have tried to get the drip pan to fit on the base with the bearings and figure out how to motorize it to make it spin like a ballerina while something is smoking.  Then you could mess with people who ask you when the cook will be done and you can answer them in revolutions!  "Only 3,174 revolutions left then its time to eat!"
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: captjoe06 on January 07, 2017, 02:11:22 AM
Very impressive!


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Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Maineac on January 07, 2017, 04:01:10 AM
Quote from: MikeRocksTheRed on January 06, 2017, 02:44:32 PM
I would have tried to get the drip pan to fit on the base with the bearings and figure out how to motorize it to make it spin like a ballerina while something is smoking. 

Ahh!  I get it, a rotisserie mod!   :)
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Travis on January 07, 2017, 08:25:26 PM
Quote from: jeffrackmo on January 06, 2017, 08:06:54 AM
Quote from: Bob BQ on January 06, 2017, 06:29:59 AM
Love that "lazy susan" mod, @Maineac !

Quote from: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM
...the body will no longer bend so it is gone now.

Sounds like you could use something like this (http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/mod-month-2015!-official-master-thread/):

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/21165640820_4ea94493bb_c.jpg)
I did this with a spare SSP cart..(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170106/8c0024f46aafd2b6f129fd34897f85b9.jpg)
I got to see that one in person. Very impressive. 👍👍
Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: Kneab on January 08, 2017, 04:38:10 AM
Quote from: Travis on January 07, 2017, 08:25:26 PM
Quote from: jeffrackmo on January 06, 2017, 08:06:54 AM
Quote from: Bob BQ on January 06, 2017, 06:29:59 AM
Love that "lazy susan" mod, @Maineac !

Quote from: Maineac on January 06, 2017, 04:15:52 AM
...the body will no longer bend so it is gone now.

Sounds like you could use something like this (http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/mod-month-2015!-official-master-thread/):

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/21165640820_4ea94493bb_c.jpg)
I did this with a spare SSP cart..(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170106/8c0024f46aafd2b6f129fd34897f85b9.jpg)
I got to see that one in person. Very impressive. 👍👍
I just picked this up yesterday from @Jeepin79
I am going to attempt a similar build for my 18" WSM. Thanks again Brett👍 (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170108/55cd556fdfc50dff863ca62a51c964f0.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170108/a773804538f063c92c42dc9523ce2da9.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170108/a6c058695740bb7d4e5b3adedc73ca6c.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170108/7016a167579037e48ebb6101c8860428.jpg)

searching for 2 18" straight lip twist ash pans.

Title: Re: The WSM Hovercraft
Post by: jeffrackmo on January 08, 2017, 05:52:11 PM
Looks like a grate set of bones...  Should come out great!!!

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